Dunsmuir Municipal Code Ch. 15.36 Electricity

All electrical construction or material and all apparatus used in connection with electrical work and the operation of all electrical apparatus shall be in conformity with the rules and regulations set down in the National Electrical Code published by the International Conference of Building Officials, 1993 Edition, which is adopted as the electrical code for the city. For future revisions, the most recent edition of the code referred to in this section shall be effective on the first day of January following the date of publication. The city council may by resolution adopt a specific edition of said code, or modify or amend the current edition to accommodate local conditions.

(Prior code § 7-7; Ord. 489 § 9, 1993; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

For the purposes of this chapter, the term "electrical wiring and apparatus" shall be construed to include all materials, devices, machinery, appliances, appurtenances or conductors used in connection with the production and transmission of electrical light, heat or power or the transmission of electrical signal, except where specifically limited to one or more of them and then only as specifically limited.

(Prior code § 7-1; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

No alteration or change shall be made in the electrical wiring or apparatus located within a building for use in connection with the production or use of electric light, heat or power, nor shall any such electrical wiring or apparatus be installed in any buildings, without first securing from the electrical inspector a permit therefor, nor shall any change be made in any wiring or apparatus after inspection without notifying the electrical inspector and securing a permit therefor. Whenever any commercial or public building is vacated and the electric current is turned off or disconnected at the order of the tenant vacating the premises, the electrical inspector shall be notified by the public utility providing power, and before the current shall be turned on or reconnected, a new certificate of inspection shall be secured.

(Prior code § 7-4; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

Before issuing a permit for the installation of any wiring or apparatus or the alteration or change in any wiring or apparatus as provided in Section 15.36.030, an application shall be filed with the city clerk describing such installation or the alteration or changes to be made, including the apparatus and material used. No deviation shall be made in the details for the wiring or apparatus as shown on the application without permission from the electrical inspector, in writing. This shall not affect the making of minor repairs to existing wiring or installations, but what shall constitute minor repairs shall be at the discretion of the electrical inspector.

(Prior code § 7-5; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

A. There shall be collected from each permittee under this chapter, by the city clerk, and paid to the electrical inspector upon the issuance of certificates permitting the use of electric current, the following fees:

1. Twenty cents ($.20) per outlet minimum charge with a minimum charge of two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50) for each necessary inspection;

2. Certificates permitting the use of electric signs shall be charged for at the same rate as other installations using the same number of lights.

B. The above fees may be changed at any time by resolution of the city council.

(Prior code § 7-6; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

No person shall permit the bridging of any fuses with any metal of a higher melting point or a greater carrying capacity than for which the fuses or switches were designed. The electrical inspector, the chief of the fire department or his representatives will have the right to make arrests for the violation of this section. The finding of fuses in the above condition bridged so as to be inoperative shall be sufficient evidence to cause complaint to be issued against whosoever is occupying the property served by such defective fuses or switch.

(Prior code § 7-8; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

Every person owning or operating a line of wires over streets, alleys or buildings in this city shall use only wires that shall suitably and safely conform with the National Electrical Code, and shall attach them to strong and sufficient supports and insulate them at all points of attachment; shall remove all wires abandoned for use; when wires are other than wires designated to carry an electric light or power current, shall suitably insulate each wire where it enters a building; shall attach to it at suitable and convenient points in the circuit calculated to prevent danger from fire and near the place of entering the building, an appliance calculated to prevent at all times a current of electricity of such intensity or volume as to be capable of injuring the building by means of such wire beyond the point at which such appliance is attached; and in all ways shall conform with such National Electrical Code.

(Prior code § 7-9; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

No wires shall be installed, operated or maintained over any street, alley, sidewalk or building in the city which shall be liable to seriously interfere with the work of the fire department in the use of ladders or other apparatus, or which shall obstruct or render hazardous the use of fire escapes. On complaint of the chief of the fire department, such obstructing, interfering or hazardous wires shall be removed or properly rearranged.

(Prior code § 7-10; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

A. Upon completion of the installation of electrical wires and apparatus in any building for use in connection with electrical light, heat or power, it shall be the duty of the person doing the same to notify the electrical inspector or the assistant electrical inspector, who shall at once inspect the same and if approved by him, he shall issue a certificate of satisfactory inspection which shall contain the date of inspection and an outline of the results of such examination, but no certificate shall be issued unless all apparatus, wires, etc., connected therewith are in strict conformity with the rules and regulations of this chapter; nor shall the current be turned on any wiring or apparatus until a certificate of satisfactory inspection is issued.

B. In the event that the electrical inspector is absent or for a bona fide reason is unobtainable, then a duly licensed electrician may authorize the use of any such installation and sign a temporary permit which shall only be good during the absence or unavailability of the electrical inspector.

(Prior code § 7-11; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

A. No person shall conceal or cause to be concealed an electrical wiring or apparatus mentioned in this chapter, except with the express permission of the electrical inspector.

B. On completion of the inspection of any electrical wiring or apparatus designed to be concealed, and found to be in full compliance with the provisions of this chapter, it shall be the duty of the electrical inspector to post a notice to that effect at the main cutout center, and such notice shall be considered as an express permission to conceal such electrical wiring and apparatus, but no concealment shall take place until such notice has been posted by the electrical inspector.

(Prior code § 7-12; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

The electrical inspector shall, at the direction of the city clerk, pursuant to a written complaint filed, inspect existing electrical wiring in the city, and if such inspector finds electrical wiring that does not conform to the requirements of this chapter and the National Electrical Code, 1984 Edition, and which constitutes a fire hazard or menace, he shall notify the owner or occupants of such condition, in writing, and if the electrical wiring is not corrected so as to eliminate the fire hazard or menace to the satisfaction of the electrical inspector, then such inspector shall order the electric power cut from such electric wiring until such condition is corrected.

(Prior code § 7-13; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

The chief of the fire department, or his representatives, shall have the power to at once cause the removal of all wires, or the turning off of all electrical current, where the circuits interfere with the work of the fire department during the progress of a fire. The electrical inspector is authorized and empowered to cause the turning off of electric current from all conductors or apparatus which are deemed by him to be in an unsafe condition or which have not been installed in conformity with the provisions of this chapter. No person shall supply or cause to be supplied any electric current to conductors or apparatus which has been deemed by the electrical inspector to be in an unsafe condition or which have not been installed in conformity with the provisions of this chapter and from which the electrical inspector has caused the electric current to be turned off.

(Prior code § 7-14; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

This chapter shall not be construed as to relieve from or lessen the responsibility of any person installing, operating or controlling any electrical wiring or apparatus for damages to anyone incurred thereby.

(Prior code § 7-15; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

The city clerk shall keep a full and complete record of all work done, permits issued, examinations made or other official work performed as required by this chapter, and shall annually make a full and detailed report thereof to the electrical inspector which shall in turn be embodied in an annual report of the electrical inspector to the city council. Such record shall be so arranged as to afford prompt information concerning the condition and general arrangements of any electrical equipment at the time of the electrical inspector's last visit.

(Prior code § 7-17; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)